Optimum Best

Yesterday we had our heating-cooling system serviced. We were not surprised to see the collection of dust-debris-etc that had accumulated through seasons of use. It brought to my mind how much I need the cleansing power of God's Word in my life! The psalmist wrote, "Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee" (Psalm 119:11 KJV). Oh, I want to say that with all the confidence of the psalmist! I fear I've hidden too many other things - polluting, unclean things - that have (like my heating-cooling system) have junked-up my heart. Believers' hearts need continual cleansing and God has given us the means: "The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. You, O Lord, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever." (Psalm 12:6-7 ESV). What a foolish notion God's children have in thinking they can know closeness to The Father (pure and holy) when our hearts are full of sin and impurities! Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth writes, "Your progress in holiness will never exceed your relationship with the holy Word of God" (The Quiet Place). The Word of God is life-giving and life-sustaining for those who belong to Jesus. I'm happy to say our system is now clean and working at optimum best; in the same way, hearts cleansed and minds transformed by The Word of God will always honor Jesus at ... optimum best. 

Praise The Lord

It's the bloomin' time of year again. My gardening skills do not qualify me as a gardener but even so ... I enjoy the blooms such as the daffodils pop-out at the first sign of spring. Have you considered the blooms that appear where there's no one to observe and enjoy their beauty? For example, the Indian Pipe that thrives in dark forest floors; or the Night-Blooming Cereus, a desert-dwelling cactus that blooms once a year; or the Desert Wildflower with its super blooms that appear only after rare rains. These blooms mostly go unobserved, their beauty lost to human eyes ... yet they bloom still! God's Word tells us creation speaks of Him, reveals His handiwork ... "day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge ... there is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard" (Psalm 19:2-3 ESV). God said this to Job, "Ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind." (Job 12:7-10 ESV). Yes, the blooms - seen and unseen - declare the glory of The Creator; they proclaim His excellency in all the earth. So, why do we not? The psalmist encourages us, "let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!" (150:6 ESV). God did not send His only Son to die for the blooms; rather, it was for you and me, He came! Let's learn from the blooms that bloom unto The Lord ... Praise The Lord!

Rest Well

Sometimes we read things that touch us in an extraordinary way; here's one such thing: "The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side." (Luke 16:22). My sisters and I miss our parents so much, and it's hard to believe how quickly the years have passed since they went to "Abraham's side" - to heaven. What comfort it is Jesus confirmed heaven is a real place and it is where The Father is and His children (His true children) will also be one day. "In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." (John 14:2-3 ESV). We might "slip away" for a brief respite but a child of God never "slips" away o one "slips away" The Creator. God's Word assures us as we  live, we are engraved on the palms of His hands and we are continually before Him (Isaiah 49:16). From first to dying breath, we are in His care and keeping; then when our lives here are done, God sends His angels to bring us to our eternal home in heaven! As hard as it was to see Mom and Dad (and so many other loved ones) take their final breaths here, know they left this world in the perfect keeping of The Father and His angels ... we can rest well in that!

His Power - His Plans

What child doesn't love to blow bubbles! It's a harmless and cheap way to guarantee giggles galore. Oh, the wonder of bubbles as they slowly drift however the current leads but they always result in ... a'burstin'. There are times in life when our dreams and aspirations go ... the way of  bubbles. The enemy loves to cash-in on these times. Oh, be gone Satan because "they who wait for The Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31 ESV). When loss of zeal and enthusiasm seem imminent, we take heart in knowing "it is The Lord Who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8). What comfort to know those who trust fully in The Lord are not carried about as bubbles in the wind; we abound in Hope by the power of The Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). Lord, remind me, renew me day-by-day that I hope neither in my own power nor plans but I rest perfectly and completely in You and Yours ... His Power - His Plans.

Not Forsaken

Perhaps you've experienced "abandonment" when it's time to clean-up after a party or when there's no one to help with a flat tire. From the cross, Jesus cried out to The Father, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). It has been suggested by some that Jesus wasn't literally forsaken, He only felt forsaken. The Scripture is clear on what Jesus said: the Greek word "egkataleipō" is best translated "totally abandoned, deserted." In those moments of His suffering, Jesus (the sinless one) became our sin; He was forsaken so that you and I would never be forsaken. Life is hard - situations, circumstances and relationships can bring-on feelings of hopelessness and despair, leaving us with the same feelings Jesus uttered in those dark moments on the cross. Even then, Jesus was willing to suffer abandonment - it was part of God's plan for me and for you so that need never suffer in such a way. When all seems lost and hopeless, know with with the full confidence of Jesus, you we are not alone. We are ... not forsaken.